Box sealing means



' Aug. 4, 1942. D. H. WQLF BOX SEALING MEANS Filed Oct 15, 1940 F/GJ I FIII 11 ill 0 7 2 Z Z 2 F M L 0 R H Om m Z 0 EM +W ww A D E mi Patented Aug. 4, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

The invention relates to a sealing means adapted to seal any openings which may occur between abutting edges of vertically stacked boxes. The invention has particular applicability between the upper edge of a milk box and the lower edge of a milk box stacked thereon. The construction in its particular form not only provides a sealing means between the edges of the boxes but also provides a cover for the open top of a box.

It is an object of the invention to construct a sealing means between the abutting upper or top edge of a box and the lower edge of a box stacked thereupon, and thereby retard the speed at which the temperature of the contents within the box returns to atmospheric temperature. When the contents of the box is bottles of milk, the bottles in warm weather remain at a cooler temperature for a longer period than if the sealing means were not provided, and if the atmospheric temperature is low, the sealing means protects the bottles against freezing.

Another object of the invention is to seal the space between the upper edge of a box and the lower edge of a similar box abutting the former when in vertically stacked relation, and also to close the hand-hole extending through one or more sides of the box.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cover for a milk box which acts as sealing means at or adjacent the periphery of the cover, and which is adapted to rest upon the outer edges of the box so that the lower edges of a second box stacked thereupon in vertical alignment also engages the sealing means and closes any openings'which might otherwise occur between the abutting edges. The cover also may carry means for closing each hand-hole opening which extends through the wall of the box.

Other objects of the invention will be more apparent from the following description written in connection with the accompanying drawing, showing a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan View of a milk box cover, looking at the bottom face thereof.

Figure 2 is a section, enlarged with respect to Figure 1, through a portion of the wall of two stacked milk boxes, one of which shows a handhole extending through the wall thereof which is also covered by the device of the invention. The sectional view also shows the seal provided between the top edge of the lower box and the abutting lower edge of an upper box stacked thereupon.

Figure 3 is a section through a portion of two stacked milk boxes adjacent the corner and shows the aligning means provided at the upper edge of and in each corner of a box to insure alignment of the box which rests thereupon. The corner aligning means is shown projecting through the cover.

Figure 4 is a partial section, enlarged with respect to Figure 1, taken on line 44 of Figure 1 through a corner of the sealing means at the periphery of the cover.

Milk is customarily transported from a dairy in bottles or other containers packed in wooden boxes having an open top and bottom. The bottles or containers of milk are retained in each box usually by metal frame work. Many times milk is so transported for considerable distances which gives ample time for the milk to become warm in the summer time or to freeze when it is winter. It has been found that the milk will remain at the desired temperature for a longer period if the stacked boxes are effectively sealed. The construction of the invention to be described herein provides such sealing means. Ice is usually packed around the bottles of milk in summer, and the sealing means of the invention reduces materially the amount of cracked ice needed to keep the milk at the proper temperature.

A portion of a Wooden box 10 is shown in Figure 2 which has a hand-hole H extending therethrough. The upper edge l2 of this box abuts the lower or bottom edge I3 of a similar box I 4 which is stacked thereupon when in transit. These boxes are not manufactured true and square, or if they are so manufactured, they do not remain so for long because of the abuse to which they are necessarily subjected in use which often wears, dents or otherwise makes the top and bottom edges thereof uneven. Again, the boxes are constantly being soaked by the melting ice and dried out when not in use which tends to warp them. Usually, therefore, there are openings at many points around the periphery of the abutting edges of the stacked boxes.

The hand-hole in opposite sides of a box also provides a point of escape for the refrigerated atmosphere within the box. The boxes are usually provided with an angular aligning means l5 at each corner which is secured at the upper end of the box in any suitable manner and projects at the top thereof, so that the boxes stacked thereupon are aligned in position with respect to the lower box by this aligning means. Obviously, any desired aligning means is utilized.

The sealing means preferably is a combined cover and sealing means. The cover or rectangular member 20 may be of any suitable material, that particularly illustrated being a heavy fabric, such as canvas. A compressible sealing means, such as a pad 2|, is secured at or adjacent the periphery of the cover in any suitable fashion. The pad 2|, in the construction particularly illustrated, is secured thereto in what may be described as a hem formed by wrapping the edges of the fabric around the same, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, and stitching or sewing the edges, by means of the threads 22, to the body of the member 20.

The pad 2i at each edge of the cover preferably extends just short of the corners, as shown in Figure 4, because the overlapping of the fabric at the corners, as shown in Figure 4;, provides at least six layers of fabric. With the overlapping shown, nine layers are provided in each corner, which layers correspond in thickness with that of the thickness of fabric and pad elsewhere at the edges of the cover.

Each corner of the cover is provided with an angular opening 25 through which the box aligning means I5 may pass. The angular opening 25 and the aligning means l5 also aid in keeping the cover in position upon the top ofv a box. The openings 25 may be reenforced at their edges in any suitable way, such as by stitching.

The rectangular sealing means of the combined cover and sealing means 20 particularly illustrated, carries or has a hinged flap 21- at:- tached thereto, at'each end thereof. This flap preferably is also made of fabric so that the flaps may lie against the cover-20 for compactness when not in use and will hang straight down from the cover when mounted upon a box, as shown in Figure 2. The flap-is shown stitched to the fabric of the cover 20. The lower end of the flaps carry one or more weights 28 so that the flap falls downwardly'along the inside face of the box wall and closes the hand-hole. opening II. This flap is preferably attached to the inside edge of the rectangular sealing means formed at, the periphery of the cover, so that the flap hangs upon the inside of the box. It is clear that the hand-hole opening could be sealed from the outside, although in this position it would interfere when one deired to lift or carry the box.- With my free hanging flap, however, as illustrated, one is able to reach in and obtain a firm grip on the box through the handhole ll, without difficulty.

The rectangular sealing means, formed at the periphery of the combined cover and sealingmeans, need not be associated with a cover when it is to be used between stacked boxes. In such a stack of boxes it is necessary that the top device only be a combined cover and sealing means.

This invention is presented to'fill a need for improvements in a box sealing means. It is understood that various modifications in structure, as well as changes in mode of operation, assembly, and manner of use, may occur to those skilled in the art, especially after benefiting from the teachings of my invention. Hence, it will be understood that this disclosure is illustrative of a preferred means of embodying my invention in useful form by explaining the construction, operation and advantages thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A sealing and cover device for a milk box having aligning means at each inner corner thereof comprising a rectangular member approximating the size of a milk box, compressible sealing means secured to the rectangular member at the periphery thereof and adapted to be compressed between the top edges of one box and the bottom edges of another box stacked thereupon, and an opening in the rectangular member at each inner corner of the sealing means to permit the box aligning means to pass therethrough.

2. A sealing and cover device for a milk box having a hand-hole in at least one side thereof comprising a rectangular member approximating the size of a milk box, compressible sealing means secured to the rectangular member at the periphery thereof and adapted to be compressed between the top edges of one box and the bottom edges of another box stacked thereupon, and a flap for each hand-hole in the box and carried by the rectangular member to cover each hand-hole in the box.

3. A sealing and cover device for a milk box having a hand-hole in at least one side thereof comprising a rectangular member of flexible material approximating the size of a milk box, compressible sealing means secured to the flexible rectangular member at the peripherythereof, and adapted to be compressed between the topedges of one box and the bottom edges of another. box stacked thereupon, and a hinged flap for, each hand-hole carried by the rectangular member to cover the same when'in use and tolie fiat on the rectangle when not in use.

4. A sealing and cover device for a milk box having aligning means at each inner corner thereof and a hand-hole in opposite sidescom prising a. rectangular member of flexible material approximating the size of the milk box, compressible sealing means secured to the rectangular member atthe periphery thereof and adapted to be compressed between the top edges of one: box and the bottom edges of another box stacked thereupon, an opening in the rectangular mem-- ber at each inner corner of the sealing means-to permit the box aligning means to pass there-.. through, and a flexible flap for each hand-hole and carried by the rectangular member adjacent the inner edge of the sealing means to hang down within the box and cover the hand-holes, the

flexible flap also permitting the same to lie flat on the rectangular member when the cover is not.

in use.

5. A sealing and cover device for a. milk box.

having aligning means at each, inner corner thereof and a hand-hole in one pair of opposite sides comprising a rectangular member of fabric. larger in size than a milk box, compressible sealing means for each edge having a length approx-. imating the inner dimension. of the box, the sealing means being secured to the rectangular member by wrapping the edges thereabout and. sewing the same in place so that a rectangular sealing. means is provided approximating the size of the milk box, the sealing means being adapted. to be. compressed between the top edges of one box and the bottom edges of another box stacked thereupon, an opening in the rectangular mem-- ber at each inner corner of the sealing means to permit the box aligning means to pass there through, and a fabric flap for each hand-hole and sewed to the rectangular member at the inner:

edge of the sealing meansto cover the hand-holesin the box.

DAVID'H. WOLF. 

